Carrots and Their Effect on Blood Sugar (2024)

Blood sugar, or glucose, is the amount of sugar in your blood. It comes from the food you eat. Your body needs it for energy, but too much can cause problems. Uncontrolled blood sugar levels can lead to type 2 diabetes or worsen your disease.

Carrots can be a safe choice if you have diabetes and are watching your blood sugar levels. They’re also non-starchy vegetables. So you can even enjoy small amounts of carrots if you’re following the ketogenic, or keto, diet.

Glycemic Index

This measures how much some foods and drinks raise your blood sugar levels. It runs on a scale of 1 to 100. A score of 100 means the food has the same effect on your body as eating a type of sugar called glucose.

The lower the glycemic index (GI), the slower your blood sugar rises. Raw carrots have a GI of 16. The GI for boiled carrots ranges from 32 to 49. That puts carrots in the low glycemic food group:

  • Low glycemic index: 1-55
  • Medium glycemic index: 56-69
  • High glycemic index: 70 or higher

The glycemic index for any food will go up if you cook or prepare them with honey or other carbohydrates. Still, carrots are high in fiber, so that helps slow down how quickly they release the sugar. They also have a lower glycemic index than other root vegetables like potatoes.

Glycemic Load

The glycemic index isn’t the only number you should watch. Another is glycemic load. It combines the glycemic index with the serving size to give you a total picture of the effect on your blood sugar. Eating low glycemic index food but a lot of it will raise the glycemic load.

Two small raw carrots have a glycemic load of about 8. That also puts carrots in the low glycemic load group:

  • Low glycemic load: 1-10
  • Medium glycemic load: 11-19
  • High glycemic load: 20 or higher

Low Glycemic Index Vegetables

Fresh vegetables are mostly water. They also pack a lot of nutrients, vitamins, and minerals. And many are low on the glycemic index, including:

Carrots and Their Effect on Blood Sugar (2024)

FAQs

Carrots and Their Effect on Blood Sugar? ›

People living with diabetes or those who want to keep their blood sugar stable should eat carrots in moderate portions or eat them as part of a balanced meal or snack. While carrots are generally considered suitable for those living with diabetes, eating too much at once may lead to high blood sugar.

Do carrots raise your blood sugar level? ›

People living with diabetes or those who want to keep their blood sugar stable should eat carrots in moderate portions or eat them as part of a balanced meal or snack. While carrots are generally considered suitable for those living with diabetes, eating too much at once may lead to high blood sugar.

What snack does not spike blood sugar? ›

Certain foods, such as leafy greens, whole grains, eggs, and nuts, will not raise blood sugar as much as other foods and can help lower a person's long-term fasting glucose levels.

What foods have a zero glycemic index? ›

Chicken, beef, fish, and eggs all have a GI of zero because they contain zero or very small amounts of carbohydrates and have a minimal effect on blood sugar levels. Increasing your overall protein intake and reducing your intake of high-GI carbs may help improve blood sugar control.

What foods raise blood sugar quickly? ›

Examples of quick-sugar foods
FoodAmount
Table sugar1 tablespoon (3 teaspoons)
Honey1 tablespoon (3 teaspoons)
Fruit juice or regular (not diet) soda pop½ to ¾ cup (4 to 6 ounces)
Hard candy6 Life Savers
1 more row

What vegetable will spike blood sugar? ›

Starchy potatoes

“Potatoes are a vegetable, but the health value of all vegetables are not interchangeable. White potatoes in particular have a very high glycemic load. As a result, a baked white potato can also raise blood sugar even more than a glazed doughnut.”

Which vegetables should be avoided in diabetes? ›

Vegetables to avoid in your diabetes diet

“Starchy vegetables, such as corn, potatoes and yams, are packed full of carbohydrates and, as a result, affect your blood sugar levels,” he says. “In particular, boiled potatoes have a high glycaemic index rating of 78.

What are the 5 worst foods for blood sugar? ›

You limit dairy products, red meat, sweets, added sugars, sodium (salt), and highly processed foods. Some additional guidelines include focusing on seasonal produce and reading food labels to help you avoid added sodium and sugar.

Why should diabetics avoid eggs? ›

Having diabetes can put a person at an increased risk of heart disease. Some people are concerned that eating eggs may raise cholesterol levels, and that this could increase the risk of heart disease. The ADA recommend that people eat less than 300 milligrams (mg) of cholesterol per day.

What can I eat in the morning to not spike my blood sugar? ›

Aim to get your carbs from fruit and vegetables, pulses, whole grain breads, cereals, and oats, as these provide fiber and don't cause blood sugar spikes and crashes, Ludlam-Raine said.

How to reduce blood sugar level immediately? ›

The fastest way to lower blood sugar is to take fast-acting insulin medication. Exercise can also help to bring down blood sugar levels quickly. Diet and lifestyle changes can help manage overall blood sugar levels, but for immediate action, prescription medication or medical assistance may be necessary.

Is peanut butter low glycemic? ›

Natural peanut butter and peanuts are low glycemic index (GI) foods. This means that when a person eats it, their blood sugar levels should not rise suddenly or too high. A diet that is high in magnesium may also offer protective benefits against the development of diabetes. Peanuts are a good source of magnesium.

Is oatmeal low glycemic? ›

Oatmeal has a low glycemic index (GI) score, and the soluble fiber and beneficial compounds in oats may help people control markers of diabetes. People with diabetes have difficulty either producing or using insulin. They have to be aware of foods rich in carbohydrates, as these foods quickly break down into sugars.

What raises A1c the most? ›

It's true that carbohydrates affect your blood sugar more than other nutrients you eat. Chances are that if you overdo starchy carbs on a regular basis, your A1c number will start to creep up. But remember, all carbs aren't a problem.

How do you feel when your blood sugar is too high? ›

increased thirst and a dry mouth. needing to pee frequently. tiredness. blurred vision.

What foods don't turn into sugar? ›

Anyone with diabetes might be surprised to learn certain foods minimally impact sugar levels, including:
  • Carrots. ...
  • High-fiber grains. ...
  • Bran cereal. ...
  • Potatoes. ...
  • Cottage cheese. ...
  • Lentils. ...
  • Strawberries and raspberries.
May 3, 2023

Do cooked carrots have more sugar than raw carrots? ›

They way we chew soft, cooked carrots will cause different flavours to be released, according to food scientist Lindsey Bagley. Furthermore, she says, "chemically, there are more sugars in a raw carrot than in a boiled carrot", which will have leaked sweetness into the cooking.

Do carrots have more sugar than potatoes? ›

Because carrots are a root, they're lower in sugar and carbs than tuber vegetables like potatoes.

Which vegetables have no sugar? ›

Mushrooms, spinach, kale, soybean sprouts, celery, broccoli, cucumber, cauliflower, radishes, and asparagus are among the vegetables with the lowest sugar content available. Seafood, pork, beef, and chicken are all sugar-free. They're also an important source of protein and omega-3 fatty acids.

Does banana raise blood sugar quickly? ›

Bananas have a low-to-medium glycemic index

Glycemic index (GI) is a value assigned to food depending on how rapidly or how slowly it increases blood glucose levels. Foods that have a lower GI are absorbed slowly and cause a gradual change in blood sugar levels. Bananas have a GI of 42 to 62, depending on the ripeness.

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